[It's such a dissonant thing, talking to him like this.

It hadn't taken a lot of testing to figure out that Maruki's timeline didn't match up with his own, even if Akira still doesn't understand the how. In this market where the fantastical is real and the calm is ever present, however, he has less of a pressing need to question it. The only thing it's meant is that he's played his cards as close to the chest as he ever has, until this particular moment threatened the equilibrium of it.

Maybe one part of it doesn't change that much, though. Even without the market's influence, Akira thinks he'd still be a little too calm, just enough sad.]

You have good things in your future. [His fingers are pressed to the table. The World stares at him upright, like someone's cosmic joke.] You'll heal from an old hurt that's weighed down your steps. And after, you'll go on a journey that fulfils you at every turn, meeting more people than you can name.

[Something loosens in his chest to recount it. He hadn't doubted, but it's still good to have the confirmation that he'll be okay, after it all.]